THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Artie. It's great talking to you. I'm
so pleased to speak to the members of Rolling Thunder, as you attend
the annual Ride for Freedom. I want to thank you for your leadership.
You might tell them, Artie, that it was my honor to host you in the
Oval Office -- you and Mike Cobb and Gary Sheffmeyer and Jay Fairlamb,
and other special guests. I really appreciated you coming by to say,
hello.

I also received a letter from you last week, if you know, Artie. I
thought you were going to offer me riding lessons -- turned out you
offered me Rolling Thunder's national endorsement for my reelection,
and I want to thank you for your support. (Applause.) I'm really
proud to have you stand by me, and the membership.

But, more importantly, I appreciate the tremendous service that the
members of Rolling Thunder perform on behalf of our veterans and active
duty armed forces. I'm not surprised you're doing such good work
because, like you, Artie, most are veterans. You understand the
definition of sacrifice.

This weekend, as you mentioned, is Memorial Day, a day we honor the
memory of the heroes who have fallen in battle. And I want to thank
you for recognizing that, Artie, and I want to thank your vast
membership for recognizing that, as well.

I'm also calling to thank you because for 17 years you've worked to
see that our war veterans are remembered, returned home and reunited
with their families. I know that your work and your persistence and
your diligence means a lot to relatives all over our country who wonder
about their loved one -- the fate of their loved one. In the Oval
Office, I looked you in the eye as you told me about your relentless
pursuit of finding out the plight of many of our POW/MIAs, and I
appreciate so very much your concern, your care and your persistence.

I also want to thank you and your organization, Artie, for honoring
the men and women of our military who fight today in Afghanistan and in
Iraq. You and I know -- both know that they're carrying out this
mission, a mission which will make America more secure and the world
more free, with incredible courage and compassion and skill.

I am proud to be the Commander-in-Chief of these brave Americans.
I will do -- I will always honor their service. I will do everything
in my power to ensure that they and their families receive the
gratitude and respect of our great nation.

It's a high honor, Artie, to serve as President of this great
country. I work every day to be worthy of that honor. And I'm calling
to tell you how much I appreciate the great faith you and your
organization have placed in me by endorsing me for a second term.